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CSA Oceans 2 Partners

The CSA Oceans consortium brings together twelve organisations that support marine and maritime research and development in Europe. The CSA Oceans 2 project will be performed by a consortium of a mix of funding, coordinating and research performing
organisations. All are members of the JPI Oceans Management Board or have a close connection to their national Management Board member.

BELGIUM

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The Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO) is a federal administration that is responsible for the preparation and implementation of research programmes in several fields (fundamental research, sustainable development, social cohesion, information society, space technology, …). It is also responsible for 10 Federal Scientific Institutions. BELSPO manages an annual budget of about 513 million euro. BELSPO is also owner of several research infrastructures on behalf of the Belgian State (eg. oceanographic research vessel Belgica).

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Established in 1999, the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) has evolved into the central coordination and information platform for marine scientific research in Flanders. VLIZ is a focal point for marine and coastal-related research and serves as an international point of contact in this respect. VLIZ does not conduct research itself, but performs scientific support tasks such as managing an oceanographic data centre, providing logistic assistance, ICT support and web services to researchers, managing a marine library, coordinating and networking, and offering a range of marine information to various target groups. Its strategic objectives are to promote coastal and marine scientific research, to increase its visibility to the public at large by means of popularisation and sensitisation, and to provide scientific information on the oceans, the seas and the coasts to policy makers. VLIZ facilitates a national network of marine scientists and other stakeholders by offering a platform, organizing meetings, congresses and conferences and by issuing publications. VLIZ manages an information desk that provides objective scientific information to people in Flanders and abroad and information of its own accord by responding to current events and promoting marine scientific research through participation in public events and exhibitions, through publications and websites, and by organising and co-organising seminars, workshops and symposia. VLIZ develops and hosts websites and portals for numerous national and international organisations, institutes, projects and other marine initiatives.

GERMANY

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With its full functional autonomy the Project Management Agency Juelich (PtJ) is administratively attached to the governmentally owned Research Centre Juelich (FZJ). FZJ has a staff of about 5700 and is one of the largest research centres in Europe. PtJ, with a staff of 800, is an authorized funding agency acting as a programme manager on behalf of several ministries on federal and provincial level such as the Federal Ministries of Education and Science (BMBF) and of Economics and Technology (BMWi). PtJ is responsible for the preparation and implementation of research programmes and thus the evaluation and management of the respective projects. PtJ was established in 1974 and is one of the leading funding agencies in Germany, covering a broad range of topics. Its division MGS (Marine and Polar Research, Geotechnology, Shipping and Marine Technology) in Rostock, Bonn and Berlin is mandated to manage all federal research programmes related to marine and maritime research.

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The German Marine Research Consortium (KDM) is made up of fifteen institutions and universities of Germany in the field of marine and polar sciences as well as of coastal research. With approximately 2,200 scientists of basic and applied marine research, KDM provides comprehensive expertise to meet global challenges having to do with the sea and our environment. KDM’s major goals are (i) the advancement of science and research, in particular in the field marine sciences including polar and coastal research, (ii) fostering the collaboration of its member institutions and the development of joint research programmes, (iii) intensifying the cooperation within German, European and international marine research and the use of infrastructure and large equipment and joint public relations addressing decision makers in Germany and the European Union. KDM is a partner in several EU project, including the European Multidisciplinary Seafloor Observatory (EMSO) within the context of ESFRI. In addition, KDM and its staff have been involved in numerous European level events, activities and projects related to marine science strategy.

DENMARK

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Innovation Fund Denmark (IFD) was established in 2014 as an independent foundation under the Danish Ministry of Research and Education. The overall aim of IFD is to support the development of knowledge and technology, including advanced technology, in order to strengthen research and innovative solutions that may benefit growth and employment in Denmark. This is done by investing in, and thus providing risk capital for societal partnership on innovation, thus enabling cutting-edge initiatives to achieve results that have substantial impact for the participating parties and the Danish Society. Danish export is about being in the forefront of innovation. It is therefore imperative that companies and universities embark on developing new technologies. We depend on research-based knowledge being brought into action every day at universities and within both large and small companies.

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SPAIN

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The Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of the Government of Spain (MINECO) implements government policy for research and innovation through the Secretary of State for Research, Development and Innovation. MINECO is the main governmental funding body for research and innovation, owns and manages the “National Plan for Research, Development and Innovation” to promote high-quality scientific research, training and career development in science and technology, supports centres of excellence, research infrastructures, technology transfer, innovation and science dissemination. MINECO is also committed to promoting internationalisation of Spanish science, supports international networking and co-operation programmes with main European and international funding agencies. Within the National Plan, oceans research is mainly founded through the National Programme for Fundamental Research. Other programme related to innovation, applied research or international activities and infrastructures devoted additional funds to oceans issues. MINECO takes part in Framework Programme projects. Among them, more than fifty ERANETs, including Marinera and SEASERA, which are both coordinated by MINECO.

FRANCE

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Through studies and expert assessments, the French Research Institute for Exploration of the Sea (Ifremer) contributes to knowledge about the oceans and its resources, the monitoring of marine and coastal zones and the sustainable development of maritime activities. For these goals, it designs and operates observational, experimental and monitoring tools and facilities. Ifremer manages the French ocean research fleet for the whole scientific community. Created by decree in 1984, Ifremer is a public institute of industrial and commercial nature. It is placed under the joint supervision of the ministries for Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Town and Country Planning; for Higher Education and Research; for Agriculture and Fisheries. Ifremer has contacts with partner organisations in many countries. Cooperation focuses on international research programmes with key countries and on a Mediterranean policy associating Europe with the South coast of the Mediterranean sea.

UNITED KINGDOM

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Defra is a ministerial department within the UK government responsible for policy and regulations on environmental, food and rural issues. It has responsible for policy and regulations on the natural environment, biodiversity, plants and animals, sustainable development and the green economy, food, farming and fisheries, animal health and welfare, environmental protection and pollution control, and rural communities and issues. Defra is a ministerial department, supported by 33 agencies and public bodies.
Although Defra only works directly in England, it works closely with the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and generally leads on negotiations in the EU and internationally

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Cefas, as an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is a multidisciplinary scientific research and consultancy centre specialising in fisheries science and management and marine monitoring and assessment. The organisation employs over 550 and provides its services to a large number of UK and international public and private sector clients, including Defra, the Environment Agency, and the European Commission. Cefas enjoys an outstanding reputation within the world community of fisheries science and management and has been at the forefront of fisheries management. Cefas plays a leading role within the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) and other international organisations (e.g. EIFAC, NASCO, NAFO, ICCAT, IWC). This work is largely directed towards the collection and analysis of environmental datasets covering a broad range of ecosystem components to determine environmental status. Cefas also provides coherent management advice to the Ministers of the Member States so that the Common Fisheries Policy can be implemented and improved. Our reputation, based on the quality and experience of the staff that we employ, is reflected in the work that we have done for overseas governments in providing an impartial and independent review of assessment and management programmes for a number of their fisheries.

GREECE

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HCMR is a governmental research centre operating under the auspices of the General Secretariat for Research and Technology (Greek Ministry of Education). It has the mandate to promote basic research in all fields of the aquatic environment and to deliver comprehensive scientific and technical support to the public. It is composed of three institutes: Oceanography, Marine Biological Resources & Inland Waters, Marine Biology, Genetics & Aquaculture. HCMR operates the 62m R/V Aegaeo, the 23m R/V Filia, four ROVs, the manned submersible THETIS, as well as two aquariums in Crete and Rhode Islands. The Centre has been involved in all EU framework programmes and participated in numerous EU-funded RTD projects, either as coordinator or partner. (e.g. CINCS, MTP-II MATER (Coordinator for East Med), METROMED (Coordinator), KEYCOP, INTERPOL (Coordinator), FATE, ADIOS, BEEP, IASON (Coordinator), MERSEA-IP, HERMES Coordinator for East Med), SESAME-IP (Coordinator), HERMIONE, EUR-OCEANS, ECOOP, CIRCE, SPICOSA, MESMA, MARIFISH, PEGASO, MedSEA, MyOcean,, PERSEUS (Coordinator), COCONET, etc. It is an active member of EuroGOOS & MedGOOS by developing a national monitoring/forecasting programme through the POSEIDON programme and by participating in EC and ESA funded research projects (MFSPP, MFSTEP, MERSEA_S1, ROSES, MERSEA_IP, MARCOAST, ECOOP, MyOcean, BOSS4GMES, EuroSITES, EuroARGO, JERICO, FixO3) to develop European capacity in operational oceanography under the GMES and GEOSS umbrella. Furthermore I.O. of HCMR coordinates the GreekEMSO and Greek Argo ESFRI projects. The Institute of Oceanography has been awarded a National Excellent Award in Greece in 2005 and in 2014 after assessment from an International Committee.

ITALY

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The National Research Council (CNR) develops interdisciplinary scientific and technological research, concerning several sectors: biotechnology, medicine, materials, environment and land, information and communications, advanced systems of production, judicial and socioeconomic sciences, classical studies and arts. Approximately 600 researchers and technicians from many CNR Institutes are involved in marine and maritime activities covering most disciplines as physics, chemistry, biology, fishery studies, oceanography, and engineering. CNR has a long experience in international cooperation, and participates to several European projects, including ERA-nets and Infrastructures in the marine sector (SEAS-ERA, COFASP, Biotech, Jerico, Eurofleets, MyOcean, Eurosites, SeaDataNet). CNR is also member of the Marine Board, EuroGOOS and the National Technological Maritime Platform. CNR runs a ship model basin (at INSEAN), research vessels, platforms, buoys, AUV, SUV etc.

NORWAY

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The Research Council of Norway is a national strategic body and funding agency for research and innovation activities. RCN covers all fields of research and innovation and works together with research institutions, as well as the private and public sectors to reach the national financial goals and quality targets set in this area. The Research Council has some 400 employees. RCN plays a vital role in developing and implementing the country’s national research strategy. It acts as 1) a government advisory body, identifying present and future needs for knowledge and research, and recommending national priorities; 2) a funding agency for research programmes and independent projects, strategic programmes at research institutions, and Norwegian participation in international research activities; 3) a coordinator, initiating networks and promoting co-operation between research institutions, ministries, business and industry, public agencies and enterprises, other sources of funding, and users of research. RCN is a member of several international organisations, programmes and institutes and takes active part in international collaboration, and cooperates with similar funding organisations globally. RCN carries the national responsibility for the management of EU framework programmes for research and technological development. On behalf of the Government of Norway, RCN is the coordinator of JPI Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans, and responsible for the management of all activities related to this as well as for the national coordination of matters related to JPI Oceans.

PORTUGAL

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Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) is the Portuguese national funding agency that supports science, technology and innovation, in all scientific domains, under responsibility of the Ministry for Science, Technology and Higher Education. FCT started its activity in August 1997, succeeding the Junta Nacional de Investigação Científica e Tecnológica (JNICT). Since March 2012 FCT coordinates public policies for the Information and Knowledge Society in Portugal, after the integration of the Knowledge Society Agency-UMIC. In October 2013, FCT took over the attributions and responsibilities of the Fundação para a Computação Científica Nacional (FCCN), [Foundation for National Scientific Computation].